Manchester United boss Ten Hag on their humiliating European exit to Bayern Munich
Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag reacts to their humiliating bottom of the group finish in the UEFA Champions League which sees them exit Europe altogether after defeat to Bayern Munich
Transcript
00:00 OK, James, do you want to ask a question?
00:04 Hi, Eric.
00:06 After the Champions League, after the League Cup,
00:10 is there a little room for error for you and United now, this season, on the back of that?
00:16 Oh, there's still many things to play for.
00:19 Now we can focus, of course, on the Premier League,
00:24 and this is, I think, the level we want to play in the Champions League,
00:31 so we have to give every effort in to be in the top four.
00:36 So next year we are back in the Champions League,
00:40 and then of course we have the FA Cup, so there's still many things to play for.
00:44 Sorry.
00:45 There was only one attempt on target tonight in the Muscat game,
00:48 I know you said the team played quite well,
00:51 is that a disappointment, lack of chances?
00:54 Yeah, I think the game was like this, I think both sides had less chances,
01:02 but I think there was a good intensity in the game,
01:06 and I think from our side we brought Bayern out of the rhythm of the game.
01:12 I think we defended and pressed the organisation, and we did quite well,
01:17 if not to say I think very well.
01:19 I think especially the first half, or second half,
01:25 where we had also very good ball recoins high on the pitch,
01:29 but then it's right, we didn't take the benefit from it.
01:32 And also in that spell of the game we had a very good chance from build-up,
01:38 we had Bruno Fernandes with a shot just over the goal.
01:42 So we had our moments, but we didn't take them.
01:45 Sorry.
01:46 You finished bottom of the group with the lowest amount of points
01:50 that Manchester United have ever got in a group phase.
01:54 Bayern Munich obviously a very good side, and tonight was a tough game.
01:59 But Copenhagen have qualified, and their budget is like a 20th of Manchester United's.
02:05 How do you explain that?
02:07 So I look to my team, and we had I think the opportunities in games,
02:18 and we were in the winning positions, and I think we scored many goals.
02:23 But then also we have to see that we gave it away,
02:28 sometimes by individual errors,
02:33 by not one player but by more players, and not every time the same.
02:38 So we gave the opponent the opportunities to return.
02:43 But if you assess that, we had very good spells in such a game,
02:48 but we have to do better, and the fact is we have not enough points.
02:52 So that is of course disappointing.
02:54 We are disappointed as a group, and as a manager I'm disappointed.
03:01 But we should have done better.
03:03 Why didn't you learn to target players from this campaign?
03:08 If you were to start again tomorrow, what would you do differently?
03:12 I think it's not only about talking about the campaign,
03:20 then you come to the same things.
03:24 So why did this happen?
03:27 I would say it's a symbol today, and we have to make steps.
03:34 We're losing players, and we're losing players who are very decisive for our game,
03:41 who can make the difference.
03:45 I think that was also the case in many games in this campaign,
03:51 that we not always had the players available we wanted to play.
03:55 That's definitely a part, but now I give you a reason,
04:00 but don't see there's an excuse,
04:02 because even when we are not all on board, then we still have to win,
04:07 because that is the targets who belong to Manchester United.
04:12 Eric, there were just 18 touches for us in the toilet tonight.
04:18 It's not all about you, I know, it's about the team,
04:20 but how concerning is that?
04:22 In terms of being able to change from the bench,
04:25 there didn't seem to be much in terms of proving the ability to score goals.
04:29 He scored five goals in the Champions League,
04:32 and he has to take this because I think that's a huge performance from him.
04:40 Of course, it's also to do with our attacking game in those games.
04:46 He has to build on this into the Premier League,
04:52 and that is very good.
04:55 Today we didn't create so many chances,
04:58 but it also has to do with a very good opponent you have to face.
05:02 OK, thank you.
05:04 Thank you.
05:05 Thank you.
05:06 Thank you.
05:07 Thank you.
05:08 Thank you.
05:10 Thank you.
05:11 LAUGHTER
05:12 (audience laughing)
05:15 (audience laughing)